International News in August 2007
Show all of 2007
Equipping Artists for Business
The two peak organisations will be collaborating to develop a website to assist visual artists with professional and business skills. more >
Arts Council to Be Launched
The formal launch of the National Arts Council will be held next Wednesday. more >
Culture Rescues Jobs in Europe?
Judging from Conclusions adopted by EU Ministers of Culture on 24 May, the Union’s newly awakened interest in culture may not primarily be the expression of a passion for the arts. more >
China, Mongolia to protect traditional long-song
China and Mongolia agreed Thursday to conduct a field survey on the traditional long-song, a major form of Mongolian song, over the next two years. more >
Funding for major heritage projects in Britain to be slashed by £60 million
Lottery money for major heritage projects in Britain is set to fall to £20m a year, down from £80m last year. more >
New heritage minister a mystery
Who is Josée Verner? more >
Obituary: Milton C. Cummings
Milton C. Cummings Jr., political scientist and elder statesman in the field of government funding of the arts, died on 10th of August.
Osama, where art thou hanging?
Priscilla Bracks -- whose work has Jesus Christ morphing into Osama bin Laden -- is another artist to show "courage" by mocking the one faith too nice to hit back, Andrew Bolt writes. more >
Authorities to start restoration of Ancient Olympia
Greek Minister of Culture Giorgos Voulgarakis has announced that the restoration of the fire-ravaged archeological site of Ancient Olympia will be immediate. more >
Culture bodies attack powers in new bill
Leading cultural bodies have expressed fears over the future of artistic independence in Scotland in their official responses to the proposed Culture Bill. more >
Culture Is Also Subject To World Views
African countries have, for the better part of the post independence era, placed the study of economics ahead of the development of arts and culture. more >
Iran to revitalize tourism industry
President Ahmadinejad has said that the government praises cultural activities, which are considered holy and valuable, and is developing infrastructure to attract tourists to experience Iran's 7,000-year-old culture and civilization. more >
Minister of Culture Meets Croatian Honorary Consul
Minister of Culture Adel Tweisi met today with Honorary Consul of Croatia in Jordan Abdul Nur Habaibeh and discussed with him the bilateral cultural cooperation. more >
New website: Keep Arts in Schools
The Ford Foundation has launched 'Keep Arts in Schools', a new website designed to equip individuals with what they need to make compelling cases for arts education. more >
Satellite Radio and NEA launch 'Big Read' Radio
XM Satellite Radio and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) will introduce the national radio series 'The Big Read,' named after the NEA's national reading program, which celebrates great books and their place in American life. more >
So Rocket Man wants us to shut down the Internet
Bemoaning the Internet's negative effect on culture, Elton John's musing about what sort of art would be produced if the Internet were to be shut down for five years has brought condescension in the blog world. Andrew Potter offers a partial defence of Sir Elton. more >
State Gets in the Swing By Helping Musicians
The government has announced plans to establish state-of-the-art recording studios and mobile studios, and is encouraging the Creative Workers Union to establish a record label. more >
Surprise announcement of new NCCA head
The announcement of Education Undersecretary Wilma Labrador as incoming chairman of the National Commission on Culture and the Arts has caught people in the arts and culture community by surprise.more >
The case for hospital art
Arts Council of Northern Ireland Chairman Rosemary Kelly on the issue of 'per cent for art' principle in healthcare capital spending. more >
Ugandan artists turn to potholes for inspiration
Under the 'Pot in the Hole' project, which aims to encourage Ugandans to explore the arts, artisans made casts of eight of Kampala's most "beautiful" potholes and painted them in a range of themes from abstract to political. more >
Urban aboriginal youth culture camps supported
An organization that helps urban aboriginal people access cultural activities received some much-needed funding on Tuesday from the federal government. more >
Culture bodies attack powers in new bill
Leading cultural bodies have expressed fears over the future of artistic independence in Scotland in their official responses to the proposed Culture Bill. more >
Direct concerns over arts funding to culture secretary - Treasury
The Treasury has responded to industry concerns over arts funding in the run up to the comprehensive spending review, by urging organisations to raise issues directly with culture secretary James Purnell. more >
Holyrood can light up the arts –but stand well back
One hundred days of SNP government, and the biggest achievement is not down to Alex Salmond. more >
Tough critic has choice words for all
Norman Lebrecht wonders why the arts in Australia are treated like a child with disabilities. more >
Osnabruck Philharmonic Orchestra to Perform in Tehran
According to Morgelan Festival Osnabuck, this cultural exchange could contribute to an easing of the tension between Iran and the West. more >
Arts Boards Struggle with Changing Roles
Ineffective governance by the board of a nonprofit organization is not a problem unique to the Smithsonian. more >
President Musharraf urges artists to help counter extremism
President General Pervez Musharraf has urged artists in the country to use their work in countering extremism and terrorism and to project Paksitan’s soft image. more >
Art in Australia: asking for a chance
Peter Garrett believes we are on the cusp of a cultural renaissance in Australia. more >
Cultural Tourism Taking the Driver's Seat
Cultural tourism is taking on a new dimension, particularly for those who live in regional areas. Increasingly, audiences are looking for ‘something extra’ in their cultural experience – not content to sit back and travel the passive road of arts and culture, visitors are taking a right hand turn and are now keen to actively engage. more >
The art of political commentary
Artist says his piece creatively conveys facts that should be readily accessible to voters. more >
Visual Artists' Legal Clinic
CARFAC Ontario has a legal service for members: the Visual Artists' Legal Clinic of Ontario (VALCO). more >
Art with a Company Logo Attached
Public money for cultural programs is being cut, so more private companies are pitching in as sponsors of the arts. But who is it really helping? more >
Changes signalled for National Cultural Foundation
In a new strategic arrangement, the National Cultural Foundation will be restructured and will be funded to perform a more developmental role, such as supporting cultural development in schools. more >
Book Excerpts to Be Viewed on iPhone
The publishing world is linking up to the iPhone. more >
Frayling to stay until January 2009
Arts Council England chair Christopher Frayling has been appointed for an extra year to avoid a situation where he would leave the organisation at the same time as chief executive Peter Hewitt. more >
Convergence in party manifestos on cultural issues
Without knowledge of our history, we are bound to repeat the mistakes of the past. more >
Directory of African Cultural Administration Training Centres
OCPA is developing a regional directory of African training centres and institutions in cultural policy, administration and management, as well as cultural development. The objective is to collect the information existing in the field and make accessible on-line, free of charge. more >
Rainbow Paper on Intercultural Dialogue
Civil society actors are being asked to contribute to a consultation on intercultural dialogue. more >
Seeking A Hedge For Art
The newly established Art Trading Fund plans to develop an art market index on the basis of which people could bet on which direction the market will go. more >
Streep backs arts cash drive
Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep arrived in the North today to boost an arts funding campaign. more >
The cultural war on this country is a daily and palpable reality
Comments from Cuban intellectual Eliades Acosta Matos, currently head of the Culture Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba. more >
2,200 in cultural exchanges between Chinese mainland, Taiwan
A total of 2,209 people from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan participated in cross-Strait cultural exchange activities in the first half of 2007, according to the Ministry of Culture. more >
A low profile despite years of political experience
Josée Verner, Canada's newest Heritage minister, is an attractive, bilingual political veteran. more >
Architecture remains on Arts Council agenda
The Arts Council has pledged to continue to invest in architecture and design, despite its decision to suspend Architecture Week next year.
Clash of Civilisations
The first Director of the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development, Els van der Plas, on the Fund, the 'clash of civilisations', and the Fund's activities in the Middle East. more >
Creative industries: managing the motley crew
Call for papers for a specail issue of Human Relations Journal: Managing in the creative industries: Managing the motley crew. more >
Culture Ministry Officials Arrested
The Egyptian government has arrested two ranking officials at the Ministry of Culture and charged them with bribery.
Culture projects to encourage tourism
To promote tourism during and after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the Ugandan Ministry of Tourism is funding special national projects. more >
Hospital art plan not a pretty picture
The whole point of having an Assembly is to allow a local input into decision-making, and there is no doubt where people stand on art in hospitals. more >
Matsuura on international day of indigenous people
On the international day of the world’s indigenous people, Director-General of UNESCO Koïchiro Matsuura has released a message on the importance of intangible cultural heritage. more >
Oda 'messed up'
Bev Oda was demoted yesterday because "she really messed up" in her post as heritage minister. more >
Venezuelan project brings harmony to Scottish estates
A scheme begun 30 years ago in the barrios of Caracas is hardly an obvious model for social regeneration in Scotland. more >
A Constructive Take on US-French Culture Wars
Martel has done the equivalent of heaving a boulder into the pond of cultural affairs. more >
ANA Tasks Culture Minister on Policies, Sale of National Theatre
The new Minister for Culture, Tourism and National Orientation Prince Adetokunbo Kayode SAN and his Minister of State, Dr. Idi Hong have been asked to rise to the challenges of transforming the Culture and Tourism Ministry. more >
EU Backs Namibian Art
An annual arts exhibition to promote Namibian art. more >
India-Thailand to Boost Further Bilateral Cultural Relations
Leaders stressed the need to further strengthen the bilateral cultural ties. more >
Josee Verner new heritage minister
Quebec MP Josée Verner will replace Bev Oda as federal heritage minister. more >
Just ask for more money
NORTH-EAST arts groups could be forced go cap-in-hand – like Oliver Twist – to the regional development agency as the Government considers spending cuts. more >
Louvre Abu Dhabi to Be Overseen by New French Museums Authority
A new organisation representing prominent French cultural institutions. more >
Money for nothing is artistic fiction
Some might say almost $300 million per year in State Government money for the arts is a waste of your money. more >
Public Diplomacy
Doug Wilson calls for a return to the successful U.S.I.A. strategy of libraries and cultural centers. more >
Sarkozy out to 'democratize' culture
France's new president has written to culture minister outlining his plans to 'democratize' culture and calling for close cooperation between the ministries of culture and education. more >
The respectable word that fell in with the wrong crowd
"Culture" used to be the word used to describe activities such as listening to Bach or going to the theatre and art galleries. more >
Time for the arts to go boom
We are constantly hearing that the economy is booming. more >
Tips from Ireland and Australia
People coming back from a trip to Ireland have often commented to me about the sheer confidence that the country exudes. more >
With Fixtures of War as Their Canvas, Muralists Add Beauty to Baghdad
Two dozen Iraqi artists have been hired to use the city’s past to hide its present. more >
Artists display their craft
The Fiji Arts Council has organised a two-day art fair to facilitate increased public access to high quality and innovative visual art and craft and to act as a catalyst in cultural development in Fiji. more >
Book Tackles Old Debate: Role of Art in Schools
When two researchers published a study a few years ago concluding that arts classes do not improve students’ overall academic performance, the backlash was bitter. more >
Culture clubbed
If Isreaeli culture as an export that has doubled, the government's investment in culture has been absurdly small. more >
Culture Minister’s pledge
New Culture Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas has criticised his predecessor Alun Pugh for operating a “dangerous” regime. more >
Culture, tourism will no longer be relegated
Nigeria's new minister for Culture and Tourism has pledged to reposition the arts and culture. more >
Don't leave arts, science behind
Since the federal No Child Left Behind rules were passed, educators increasingly lament being forced to "teach to the test." more >
First person singular: why does opera get all the cash?
Maureen Paton laments the massive disparity in funding between opera and jazz. more >
More US museums need directors than ever before
There are currently over two dozen major US museums looking for new directors, more than at any time in the past 20 years. more >
National Lottery money is running out for the arts
The National Lottery bonanza is drawing to a close for the arts. more >
New Gates Open for Mongolian Artists
Delegates from the various member countries of the Asian chapter of the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies (IFACCA) returned to their homelands on Wednesday after two full days of sharing one another’s collective wisdom on arts policy. more >
Picture, picture, on the wall, is the art minister on the ball?
Experts analyse the Culture Secretary's choice of pictures for office. more >
Redford Pitches Ways to Boost Arts Funding
The Academy Award-winning actor and Americans for the Arts, an advocacy group that lobbies for more funding for the arts, have teamed up to urge corporations, foundations and individuals to think of the arts as a way to address educational, health and environmental problems rather than as a competing philanthropic cause. more >
So-called artful dodgers most likely just a tardy lot
The Australia Council has rejected newspaper reports that $20 million in grants was squandered on projects that were never completed, stating the figure was "false and certainly gave false impressions. more >
South Africa: Child Actors, Models And the Law
South Africa has a new Act for employing children in cultural activities. more >
Bishop creates Aust literature position
The Federal Government has announced funding for a new chair in Australian literature at an Australian university. more >
Artists Feel Painted Into a Corner in Baghdad
Ultimately, it won't be the constant threat of violence that drives celebrated ceramics artist Mahir Samarrai out of the place of his birth. When he finally, reluctantly moves out of Baghdad later this year, the cause will be much more mundane. more >
The international who's who in cultural policy, planning and research >